AN: I absolutely do NOT own the Hobbit, so don't get any crazy ideas! Enjoy~!
Night of Friday the 22nd …
Oh happy day! Oh what a happy, joyous day!
Today is precisely the day that I have been awaiting for some time now. That wandering old wizard was more than right in choosing a world renowned master burglar (me), nothing more than a mere hobbit. And that Thorin assumed that I was nothing more than a grocer. HA! I most certainly showed him…the look on his face was absolutely priceless! Skipping joyously through the cavern, goblet in hand, a wide smile on all their faces as I approached, gracious eyes peering back at me. It was absolutely splendid! Although it didn't start out splendid, nope, not at all.
Gazing into a hall made of shadows, I stood still as stone as my "employers" commanded me to enter the dragon's crypt. Now, a frail little hobbit like myself would never possibly dream of entering such a drafty mess, at least, not on my own. I heard what sounded like mutters, and out of nowhere, two strong hands came up behind me and gave me a hard shove that sent me tumbling down into the fissure, all the while, Thorin grumbling, "Damn that hobbit, does he have to make so much racket". Thorin has never been the patient type.
Clumsily, I smashed my poor noggin on the cold stone wall. I came to, rubbing my swollen crown, alone in a dark, damp hall. The clammy stone had smooth edges as if the water had been eroding it away after many years. As I slowly made my way down the grand hall, a misty breeze whispered my name; its voiceless yearning cried out in pain as it whirled itself through the twisting staircase that lay before me. As I gradually made my decent into darkness, I was overwhelmed with a sense that I was not at all alone. In fact, I was surrounded by a thick mist that whispered and cried and fought for my attention as I pushed myself onward. An unknown part of me was so sure that the strange mist was made up of the souls of the long forgotten, warning me to turn back for if I pressed forward I was sure enough going to join their horrific fate.
The quiet voice inside my head told me to push on forward as I unconsciously slipped my golden ring onto my finger. I took one step, then two, then three, and before I knew it, I was at the bottom of the stairs. I slowly crept my way around a corner, silently moving like a cat in the night. Shockingly, I began to feel droplets of sweat gathering on my forehead. My pace quickened when I saw a single burning ember in the distance. Its glow seared my eyes as I swiftly moved towards its fiery essence. I was at the point of a brisk walk when I saw that it was no burning ember that emitted such a glow. No, instead it was the radiance of fire being reflected off the deadly worm's scales. The mightiest of foes lay before me sleeping as I was paralyzed with fear. My gaze shifted off the fearsome slumbering dragon and onto a twinkling object. My hands reached out, of their own accord, and I slowly bent down and tenderly scooped up the glimmering goblet. As quiet as the night I fled out of the dragon's catacombs, up the stairs, and out of the grand hall. Not once did I slow down until I saw the cheerful faces of my comrades.
Scared half out of my wits, I was. But my job was done, and through the danger, I was able to celebrate with my newly realized friends. Through it all, the little voice in my head is muttering to itself that the feat accomplished was far too easy, and the shivering feeling going down the back of my spine agrees…
Mr. Bilbo Baggins